The purpose of this study is to determine if patients with unexplained iron deficiency have underlying diseases processes such as celiac disease.

It is hypothesized that selectively screening patients with unexplained iron deficiency will reveal previously undiagnosed etiologies, including celiac disease and other causes of iron malabsorption along with various sources of occult GI blood loss.

Further study details as provided by Providence Medical Research Center:

Primary Outcome Measures:

Positive results for Expanded Celiac Disease Panel [ Time Frame: Upon consent and enrollment in the study, laboratory tests will be done to evaluate for the presence of Celiac Disease ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Percentage of Clinic Patient Population with one or more markers of iron deficiency [ Time Frame: at enrollment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Other tests will be done at enrollment to assess for iron malabsorption and possibly to identify causes of iron malabsorption other than celiac disease. These include Iron absorption Testing (serum iron level before and after oral FeSO4 tablet or liquid), with percent iron saturation. Ferritin, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit, Vitamin D level, Folate, Vitamin B12 level, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), and Stool Occult Blood Test

Other Outcome Measures:

Improved Quality of Life after one year of intervention (either gluten-free diet if Celiac disease is diagnosed and/or recommendation of daily iron supplementation) [ Time Frame: Enrollment and End of One Year ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

For patients diagnosed with Celiac disease at enrollment, a gluten-free diet will be advised explained by a Registered Dietician. Patients not diagnosed with celiac disease but with iron deficiency or malabsorption will be advised to take daily oral iron supplements. Quality of Life Surveys will be administered at enrollment and at the end of one year to assess for improvement resulting from diet and/or supplementation.

Biospecimen Retention: Samples Without DNA

The serum remaining from 10 mL of blood will be aliquoted and frozen at -70 degrees. If future funding allows, these samples will be tested for autoimmune and malabsorption markers.

Estimated Enrollment:

200

Study Start Date:

March 2014

Estimated Study Completion Date:

March 2016

Estimated Primary Completion Date:

March 2015 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Detailed Description:

The primary purpose of the study is to document unexplained iron deficiency and its relationship to celiac disease, iron malabsorption and occult intestinal blood loss. Test results given to primary care physicians may prompt further testing for celiac disease (duodenal biopsy) or other potential causes of occult iron deficiency. The specific endpoints to be evaluated include:

Prevalence of specific serum markers of celiac disease in those with unexplained serum markers of iron deficiency.

Prevalence of iron malabsorption with and without celiac disease in the same population

Frequency of other blood tests for malabsorption and their association with celiac disease or other cause of iron malabsorption.

Quality of life improvement based on new diagnoses with appropriate therapy

After one year follow-up, review patient records for additional diagnoses explaining iron deficiency.

Primary Objective:

Discover several etiologies of unexplained iron deficiency in a primary care clinic population including celiac disease, iron malabsorption and occult intestinal blood loss.

Secondary Objectives:

Define percent of total clinic patient population with one or more markers of iron deficiency on last testing and the subset without an apparent etiology on their problem list ("study group").

Define percent of patients in the study group that are currently iron deficient at time of study onset, and how many of those are actually anemic.

Define percent of study group patients with iron malabsorption, with or without celiac disease.

Document improved quality of life outcomes for those with new diagnoses and appropriate therapy, including celiac disease given gluten-free diet and iron therapy.

For those patients identified with celiac disease, do statistical analysis of historical and lab parameters that are more highly linked to celiac disease to improve screening parameters.

Document percent of various diagnoses that explain occult iron deficiency as found by primary care providers over the course of a one year follow-up after initial diagnosis. (Providers will be given all testing results related to their patients after the initial screening and at one year.)

Specific cost-effectiveness of this screening procedure may be done in a future study if preliminary results are suggestive of improved outcomes.

Prior diagnosis of celiac disease, or other documented cause of iron malabsorption.

Women who are currently pregnant, or who were pregnant with 6 months prior to time of last testing.

Those currently or recently on chemotherapy (within the last 6 months)

Those with prior gastric resection or bariatric surgery

Those with advanced chronic kidney disease (stage 4 or 5)

Any other reasons that, in the investigators' opinion, may prevent compliance with protocol

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02036944